Building for non-profits is currently far too expensive
There are still construction sites in many Salzburg communities. In addition to residential construction, there are projects for assisted living and, above all, childcare facilities.
Existing is still being built
Managing Director Christian Struber from Salzburg Wohnbau emphasizes that never before has so much been built for childcare: “The second block concerns the recycling and building yards. In all communities where something like this was built 30 years ago, modernization is now required. The third focus is employee housing.”
These are also the focal points that were the focus of the Salzburg housing construction day. The biggest problem for the communities is the sharp rise in construction costs and unstable prices. Therefore, hardly any orders are placed.
Mayor on austerity course
Public clients are bound by certain price specifications in order to receive subsidies from tax pots, says Mayor Sebastian Schönbuchner (ÖVP) in Großgmain (Flachgau): “If you can figure it out with a fixed price, then you have the guarantee that it will stay within limits. If there are no longer any fixed prices, then that is a huge problem.”
The new building for the municipal office in Großgmain was commissioned at the beginning of 2021 with fixed costs. This year the project would no longer have been feasible – because it is now far too expensive.
All communities are currently facing these problems, says Mayor Martin Promok (SPÖ) in Annaberg (Tennengau): “We will try to cover everything. But if we don’t have enough money, then we have to cut corners.”
In Anif (Flachgau) the new construction of the schools is still being worked on. They want to take some time with new projects, says Mayor Gabriella Gehmacher-Leitner (Krüger list): “I’m not at all ungrateful that we don’t start new projects right away. I’m optimistic that we can start at the right moment for the kindergarten.”
Price reductions by waiving orders?
The managers of housing developers, like Struber, also see it like this: “We are not currently tendering anything because we know what the offer will look like. Our actions are aimed at changing that again.”
Municipalities and housing developers are the clients for around 50 percent of the total volume of building construction in the state. If there are no more new projects coming here, then the construction prices should not remain at the record high for much longer.